Lung Cancer Surgery in the Los Angeles Area
For many patients with lung cancer, surgery can play a major role in a comprehensive treatment plan. The thoracic surgeons at City of Hope® have expertise in many kinds of advanced lung surgery, including minimally invasive procedures that prioritize preserving as much lung tissue as possible and promoting a faster recovery. Our thoracic specialists at City of Hope Cancer Center Duarte, located in the Los Angeles area, are nationally recognized for their expertise in and commitment to high-quality care, including treating complex lung cancer cases that may be deemed untreatable at other cancer centers.
What Sets Our Los Angeles Lung Cancer Surgery Options Apart?

- Our multidisciplinary care teams, who can accurately diagnose and stage lung cancer as quickly as possible, improving speed-to-care
- Access to a wide range of minimally invasive surgical options for patients with NSCLC and, in some cases, SCLC
Your Los Angeles-Area Thoracic Surgery Treatment Options
City of Hope offers patients in the Los Angeles area and beyond access to advanced surgical options for both staging and treating lung cancer.
For lung cancer patients, the type of surgery doctors recommend depends on a variety of factors, including the type and stage of lung cancer, whether it has spread (metastasized) to other areas of the body, and the patient’s pulmonary function and overall health. The mainstay treatment for lung cancer is lobectomy, which removes some or all of a lobe in the lung.
The many benefits to receiving care at City of Hope Duarte include:
- Our surgical oncologists, who are nationally recognized experts in minimally invasive, lung-sparing robotic and laparoscopic surgical techniques designed to improve quality of life and recovery
- City of Hope’s team, one of the most experienced in the country at performing robotic lobectomy
- Access to clinical trials for eligible patients at all stages of lung cancer
- City of Hope’s world-class surgeons, who have expertise in treating advanced-stage NSCLC
- Access for certain patients to transbronchial ablation, an innovative, less invasive procedure that uses microwave radiation to destroy tumors
Our Los Angeles-Area Thoracic Surgery Experts

Loretta Erhunmwunsee, M.D., F.A.C.S., is the Vice President and Chief Health Access and Community Enrichment Officer at City of Hope (COH) Medical Center where she leads the development and implementation of strategy that addresses health disparities and that fosters inclusion across the COH

Dr. Abigail Fong, M.D., M.B.A, is an assistant clinical professor in the department of surgery.
Jae Y. Kim, M.D., is the chief of the Division of Thoracic Surgery and an associate professor in the Department of Surgery. Dr. Kim specializes in esophageal cancer and lung cancer, robotic surgery, mesothelioma and thymoma.

Dan Raz, M.D., M.A.S., is co-director of the Lung Cancer and Thoracic Oncology Program and an associate professor in the Division of Thoracic Surgery. Dr. Raz specializes in esophageal and lung cancer surgery – and in raising public awareness about cancer risks.
Make an Appointment With Our Los Angeles-Area Lung Cancer Surgeons
Our lung cancer surgeons are experts in diagnosing and treating this complex disease. Get in touch today to become a patient or to get a second opinion.
